My how time flies when I have no John Muir Trail hike to plan for. In both 2014 and last year, as I tracked the months, days and minutes until I hit the trail, it seemed that time was frozen and my calendar was dipped in glue. As much as I would love to head out for an extended backpacking trip again this summer, those pesky adult responsibilities like work, paying bills and buying groceries are unavoidable. But I can’t complain. Not many people are afforded the opportunity to hike the John Muir Trail two consecutive summers. And I live in an area that affords me easy access to some of the best hiking in the state, possibly even the universe. (This is one of those hyperbole statements that is not easy to refute, so I’ll let it stand). As the calendar flips to July, I still plan on getting out into the Sierra for some overnighters in the Desolation Wilderness area and if I can swing it, maybe even a mini-revisit of the JMT.

Lupines at Lake Don Pedro

For now, I share a gallery review of my first six months of adventuring. I was off work for almost three months early in the year, so that allowed me a few road trips, Death Valley and Yosemite being the highlights. I’m hoping the second half of 2016 features more wildflowers, landscapes, star-filled skies, howling coyotes, waterfalls and fungus.

Cataract Creek, Mt. Tamalpais (Jan.)

Cataract Trail, Mt. Tamalpais

Wild mushrooms, Mt. Tamalpais

Royal larkspur, Mt. Diablo State Park

Poppies – Back Creek Trail, Mt. Diablo

Palomarin Trail, Pt. Reyes National Seashore

Lupine – Point Reyes

Cataract Creek – Mt. Tamalpais Watershed

Rock Spring Trail, Mt. Tamalpais

Cow parsnip in the morning sun – Redwood Trail

Cow parsnip

Simmons Trail – Mt. Tamalpais Watershed

Cataract Trail, Mt. Tamalpais

Blue dicks near Rock Spring Trailhead, Mt. Tam.

Young ferns, Purisima Creek Redwoods

Starry False Lily – Purisima Creek Redwoods

Purisima Creek Redwoods park

Miner’s lettuce, Mt. Tamalpais

Stonecrop/Dudleya, Heather Cut-off, Mt. Tam

Wild daisy, Cataract Trail, Mt. Tam

Wild daisy near Laurel Dell, Mt. Tamalpais

Summer reflections, Mt. Tamalpais

Paintbrush and forest, Mt. Tallac Trailhead

Lupines, paintbrush and forest, Desolation Wilderness

Snow Plant near Floating Island Lake, Deso Wilderness

Mt. Tallac Trail

Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness

Sunrise east of Oakdale, Sierra Foothills

Fiddlehead, Lake Don Pedro

Lower Yosemite Falls (March)

Lupines at Lake Don Pedro

Wild mushroom along the trail

Lower Yosemite Falls (March)

Mt. Whitney (February)

Desert Gold, Death Valley

Ubehebe Craters, Death Valley National Monument

Rock formations in Titus Canyon, DV

Death Valley

Mesquite Campground, Death Valley

Sunrise, Death Valley

Night sky over Death Valley

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About victorvolta

I am a freelance photographer/writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I grew up in the very suburban city of Santa Clara. Education: San Jose State University (class of '84) BA degree in Journalism with concentrations in Photojournalism and English. Favorite Foods: Ribeye steaks and Stan's Doughnuts (separate plates, usually). Favorite Drinks: Strong gourmet coffee and Trader Joe's Blood Orange Italian Soda (separate cups).